Read Online A Battle of Brains by Barbara Cartland - Free Book Online Page B

against his chest.
    But he merely laughed and it was a discordant and unpleasant laugh.
    Then he muttered,
    â€œDo you think that I’d let go of something the Gods have sent me?  Now do stop being so coy and we’ll enjoy ourselves.”
    By this time he had dragged Yolanda to the bed and she knew that he was going to push her down onto it.
    She struggled wildly.
    As he was so unsteady, she thought for a moment that she could force herself free of him.
    Then, with what seemed to be a superhuman effort, he pushed her back onto the bed.
    She screamed and screamed.
    He threw himself violently on top of her and for a moment he almost made it impossible for her to breathe.
    Then she felt him tearing at her dressing gown.
    She screamed and screamed again.
    She heard her nightgown tear and felt him pulling it away from her neck.
    It was then that the door of the bedroom burst open.
    â€œWhat the devil is going on in here?” she heard her stepfather demand furiously.
    Yolanda howled again.
    Mr. Garrack quickly realised what was happening.
    In two strides he reached the bed and pulled Cecil Watson off Yolanda’s body.
    As Watson tried to struggle, he hit him hard on the jaw and he fell to the ground.
    Mr. Garrack then picked up Yolanda who was still screaming.
    â€œIt’s all right, Yolanda, it’s all right, you are safe.  He will not hurt you now.”
    She was shaking all over.
    Because she was so obviously incapable of standing, her stepfather carried her out of the room into the corridor.
    Now she was crying helplessly like a child who had been hurt.
    As he walked with her towards her room, he said soothingly,
    â€œIt’s all over.  He has not hurt you and I will see he does not come near you again.”
    It was impossible for Yolanda to answer.
    He had to put her down for a moment as he opened her bedroom door.
    She was in a state of shock and would have fallen to the ground if he had not held her up with one arm.
    When the door was open, Mr. Garrack had to pick her up again as he realised she was incapable of walking.
    He laid her down on her own bed and in the light of the little candelabra he could see the tears running down her cheeks, streaming from her closed eyes.
    He also saw how the top part of her dressing gown had been torn away from her neck.
    He was, however, more concerned by her face than anything else.
    She was deadly pale and her body was shaking.
    He sat down beside the bed holding both her hands in his.
    â€œIt’s all right!” he told her gently.  “It’s all right and something that will never happen again!  Can I fetch you something to drink?”
    Yolanda gave a gasp and then opened her eyes.
    â€œ Save me !  Oh, please do save me!” she called out desperately, her voice rising as she spoke.  “Save me!”
    â€œI have saved you,” her stepfather insisted.  “You are perfectly safe now and I promise you he shall not come near you again.  It’s all over.”
    Yolanda clutched hold of his hand.
    â€œHe is horrible – beastly,” she muttered in a voice that did not sound like her own.
    â€œI know that, but you have to be sensible and realise that he is drunk and you are a very pretty girl.  He was not thinking about who you are, just that you were a woman and in his room.”
    His words seemed to reach her for the first time.
    After a moment Yolanda opened her eyes, still holding frantically on to his hands.
    â€œI am so – frightened,” she managed to stammer.
    â€œI know you are, Yolanda, but now there is just no need.  I want you to go to sleep and forget all about what has happened.”
    â€œHe is so disgusting – and so repulsive!  I could not fight him, he was too strong!”
    â€œI know that, but I expect by the morning he will forget what he has done.  He had more than enough drink to make him unconscious – or so I thought.”
    Now there